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Lebanese Army Colonel Arrested for Spying for Israel
A Lebanese army colonel has been arrested on suspicion of spying for Israel, a security official said on Tuesday.
"A colonel serving with the army has been detained by army intelligence as part of the crackdown on Israeli spy networks uncovered throughout the country," the official, who spoke on condition of anonymity, told AFP.
The colonel identified as Mansour Diab is the latest in a string of suspects arrested in recent months on espionage charges.
A total of 21 people have been charged with spying, including three on Tuesday.
Lebanon remains in a state of war with Israel and convicted spies face a possible life prison term with hard labor or the death penalty if found guilty of contributing to Lebanese loss of life.
There was no official confirmation from the Lebanese military command yet.
Dozens of suspects are held in Lebanon on suspicion of spying for Israel, many of whom have confessed to working for the Israeli secret service, Mossad.
At least two spies fled to Israel last week and Lebanon has demanded Israel hand them back.
Hizbullah chief Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah has called for the death penalty for all suspects convicted of spying for Israel, including Shiites.